Commentary Global Media Journal – Indian Edition/ISSN 2249-5835 Winter Issue / December 2011 Vol. 2/No.2 RECENT TRENDS OF PRINT MEDIA IN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION Dhanshri M. Patil Assistant Lecturer, Department of IT Hon. Shri. Annasaheb Dange Arts, Commerce, Science Mahavidyalaya, Hatkanangale. [Affiliated to Shivaji University, Kolhapur] Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India. Email: [email protected]. Abstract: Development communication is a communication used for the development of human beings. Print media and electronic media both play a significant role in the development communication of any country. In India, the Government uses print media to secure wide coverage of messages through various newspapers and journals. Print media as a traditional media plays a significant role in the development communication. In India, print media strengths have largely been shaped by its historical experience and, in particular, by its association with the freedom struggle as well as movements for social emancipation, reform, and amelioration. Today various modern and sophisticated technologies are using by the print media in both developed and under-developed countries and they also face stiff competition from electronic media. This article studies the circulation trends of the print media: newspaper and magazines in India and other few countries and also discussed how the role of print media in the development communication is changing in recent era. It also concentrates on what is the impact of new electronic media on the print media. 1 Keywords: print media, historical scenario, current scenario, new media impact. Introduction In order to communicate with each other human being is using means of verbal and non-verbal for centuries. Communication is used as an empowerment tool for developing society. In other words, communication is used as a tool to facilitate the participation of people in development activities. Millions of people in developing countries are excluded from a wide range of information and knowledge, with the rural poor in particular remaining isolated from both traditional media and new information and communication technologies which would improve their life. In ‗development communication there are two words -‗development‘ and ‗communication‘. The meaning of these two words is: - communication is a message understood or sharing of experience. Development is about change. It is about changing for the better. It could be about social or economic change for improvement or progress. When we refer to development communication, it is about such communication that can be used for development. It is about using communication to change or improve something. The messages which are designed to transform the behavior of people or for improving their quality of life can be termed as development communication and these messages used to change the socio-economic condition of people. Therefore, development communication can be defined as the use of communication to promote development. Media like print media and electronic media plays a significant role in development communication of country. Even after the advent of electronic media-like radio and television, the print media has not lost its charm or relevance. Print media has the advantage of making a longer impact on the minds of the reader with more in-depth reporting and analysis. The contribution of print media in providing information and transfer of knowledge is remarkable. Now-a-days, print media is faster than all ever before due to amazing advances in 2 technology in recent years. Technical breakthroughs alter the way we perceive the universe and manner in which we communicate with one another. So it‘s become important to study recent trends of print media-newspaper, magazines, booklet etc in the development communication of country and worldwide. Development Communication Using Print Media Especially, print media as a traditional media of development communication is the closest to people who need messages of development like the farmers and workers. Such forms of media are participatory and effective. As far as the print media is concerned, after Independence when the Five Year Plans were initiated by the government for planned development, it was the newspapers which gave great importance to development themes. They wrote on various government development programs and how the people could make use of them. They cover about farming and related subjects and information about weather, market rates, availability of improved seeds and implements. The scientific and technological advancements have brought about steady fast development in the media world. New media are coming up while the old ones are being improved upon and in this process their availability has increased manifolds. They are now conquering even the remote and distant regions of the world. This multifaceted development has brought about a lot more variety than could be imagined. There has been growing multiplicity between the media and this process is still continuing. As a result the Indian people are facing plenty of choices. Print medium was the first to be used as mass media for communicating the information. Till today print media is one of the powerful media among the rural people.1 Print Media in India Before Freedom: History of print media and written communication follows the progress of civilization which in turn moves in response to changing cultural technologies. The transfer of 3 complex information, ideas and concepts from one individual to another, or to a group, underwent extreme evolution since prehistoric times. It has been 30,000 years later since the first recorded evidence of written communication and it is still dramatically changing. The Press in India, particularly the Indian language newspapers, was in the forefront of the struggle for freedom. Many leaders from Mahatma Gandhi downwards used their newspapers to activate the people to participate in the freedom struggle. But the newspapers are no longer active in the fight against poverty, disease, illiteracy and superstition.2 Political leaders used the Press to rouse the people. It was, therefore, natural that the British rulers of India used every weapon in their armoury to silence the nationalist press. Newspapers always had the sword of Damocles hanging over their head. Security was asked at the slightest pretext and editors and publishers were prosecuted for sedition. Some editors were even transported to the Andaman. For the editors and people who worked in newspapers, journalism was a mission. Even captains of commerce who published newspapers treated this activity as their contribution to the struggle for freedom. Wages for journalists were poor and there was no security. Newspaper publication was not profitable and journalism was not paying as compared to other professions but things changed after Independence and each year saw acceleration in change. In India, whilst newspapers came much later as opposed to Europe or America, it has a rich pedigree of being a witness and a catalyst to the birth and growth of the nation. The first newspaper published in India was the Bengal Gazette started by James Augustus Hickey in 1780. Although the paper was rather frivolous in nature as it mostly only published gossip and advertisements, the thriving media industry owes its existence to James Augustus Hickey and his Gazette. Soon after, papers such as Bombay Herald and the Bombay Courier were started in the country. Interestingly, the Bombay Courier later merged with the Times of India newspaper. In 1818, the first regional language newspaper Samachar Darpan was published in Bengali. The Bombay Samachar started in 1822, remains to this day the oldest newspaper in Asia. In the pre independence era, newspapers had one agenda in their minds – to further their ideology. Bal Ganghadar Tilak is a prominent stalwart of the pre-independence era and a revolutionary leader who used his newspaper as a vehicle of communicating his ideas and ideals of the freedom 4 struggle. Kesari, which was established in 1880, was published in Marathi. Prior to 1947, the newspaper industry had only one goal – to proliferate the cause of Independence. After India became Independent in 1947, British owners of the newspapers like The Times of India also left the country, handing over the businesses to Indian companies. Editors of pro- freedom struggle Indian newspapers had anti-British stance till 1947. These newspapers gradually changed their approach; some became pro-establishment and the others adopted aggressive anti-establishment strategies. The publishers during the subsequent decades expanded their groups and chains with additions of new editions at other centers or new publications. It means after the independence of India scene of print media has changed. There has been a phenomenal rise in the number of newspapers and their circulation. The number of pages has increased. The quality of production has improved all rounds. Even medium Indian language newspapers have taken advantage of the advances in printing and communication technology to bring out multiple edition dailies. The best example of this one is Daily Sakaal which is among the first newspapers not only in Maharashtra but also in India, to have adopted modern management systems and processes. It has deployed the latest technology made available through partners who are world leaders in their areas of specialisation. Newspapers of the big chains face a stiff competition from these newspapers